General Atomics Lithium-Ion Battery System Selected for New Navy Submersible

General Atomics Lithium-Ion Battery System Selected for New Navy Submersible

SAN DIEGO, CA, 22 SEPTEMBER 2016 – General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced today that it has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to provide Lithium-ion Fault Tolerant (LiFT) battery systems for use on U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) new Dry Combat Submersible (DCS), a long endurance delivery vehicle capable of transporting divers in a dry environment. The GA-EMS LiFT battery system will power the DCS propulsion and internal support systems.

“We are extremely proud to have our LiFT battery system selected in support of Lockheed Martin’s contract to build USSOCOM’s new dry submersible,” stated Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “With safety as the number one priority, we have designed LiFT unlike any other Lithium-ion battery system. Our unique solution provides the energy needed to safely propel and power the DCS at the distances and depths required to deliver personnel to their mission destination.”

LiFT battery systems are high energy density solutions for both manned and unmanned underwater vehicles. LiFT’s single cell fault tolerance prevents uncontrolled and catastrophic cascading cell failure. This not only ensures the safety of any on-board personnel, but also ensures systems continue to operate through faults to enable mission completion. In April of this year, the LiFT battery system successfully underwent at-sea on-hull demonstration testing on a USSOCOM undersea vehicle.

“This contract award represents a significant milestone in the advancement of our Lithium-ion battery system, having been tested and authorized by USSOCOM and the U.S. Navy for use on USSOCOM manned submersibles,” stated Paul Clark, senior manager responsible for the LiFT program at GA-EMS. “We’re now applying this same technology and modular design to create safety certifiable LiFT battery systems for other defense platforms, including ground vehicles and aircraft.”

About General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) Group is a global leader in the research, design, and manufacture of first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' history of technology innovation has led to an expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions supporting aviation, missile defense, power and energy, and processing and monitoring applications for critical defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.